Dezeen » skylightshttp://www.dezeen.com
architecture and design magazineTue, 31 Mar 2015 21:00:38 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1High-level windows funnel daylight into Skylight House extension by Andrew Burgeshttp://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/02/skylight-house-extension-sydney-andrew-burges-architects/
http://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/02/skylight-house-extension-sydney-andrew-burges-architects/#commentsTue, 02 Sep 2014 07:00:58 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=532843Skylights at the apex of a sloping roof project light onto the brick internal walls of this extension to a bungalow in Sydney, by local studio Andrew Burges Architects (+ slideshow) The family, who occupy a typical 1940s bungalow, asked Andrew Burges to reorganise and extend the property in Sydney's North Shore to improve both the […]

Skylights at the apex of a sloping roof project light onto the brick internal walls of this extension to a bungalow in Sydney, by local studio Andrew Burges Architects (+ slideshow)

The family, who occupy a typical 1940s bungalow, asked Andrew Burges to reorganise and extend the property in Sydney's North Shore to improve both the daylight inside and the connection with the garden.

"The conceptual framework of the house has been developed around improving the quality and character of natural light in both the existing interior and as a defining element in the new addition," said the architects.

The pitched roof of the single-storey extension rises from behind the roof of the original house, resulting in a V-shaped gap between the two. This incorporates skylights, ensuring that daylight reaches spaces at the centre of the home.

The living, dining and kitchen area located within the extension is illuminated by large windows facing the garden and by two skylights built into the roof that channel light onto the walls.

Materials were chosen to enhance the unusual section of the new structure. The sloping ceiling is painted white, while the walls that extend up towards the skylights are constructed from bricks reclaimed from the demolished rear wall and former bathroom.

"The section creates a play between an abstract, white, sculptured ceiling line and bulkhead datum, which washes light on the more robust natural finishes used below the ceiling and bulkhead datum," explained the architects.

Natural materials, including American oak used for the fitted cabinetry, and a concrete floor create tactile surfaces below the ceiling line.

A central core containing a bathroom and laundry was inserted between the old and new parts of the house. This reduces the number of internal corridors and frames an improved connection between the entrance and the new spaces.

New internal walls lining the kitchen, master bedroom and central core incorporate storage to make full use of the available space.

Sliding doors enable the living area to be opened up to a covered deck adjoining the garden, while expansive windows in the kitchen and master bedroom can be covered by sliding slatted timber screens to control privacy and sunlight levels.

Wide benches extending from the base of the windows create transitional spaces between the rooms and the garden that incorporate low storage units.

The edging of the roof and brick surrounding the rear facade has a thickness of just 50 millimetres to create a minimal frame around the simple palette of timber and brick surfaces.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/02/skylight-house-extension-sydney-andrew-burges-architects/feed/2Faceted ceilings direct sunlight into Sydney home by Carter Williamson Architectshttp://www.dezeen.com/2014/08/20/light-cannon-house-carter-williamson-skylight-sydney/
http://www.dezeen.com/2014/08/20/light-cannon-house-carter-williamson-skylight-sydney/#commentsWed, 20 Aug 2014 07:00:06 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=522600Two angular skylights funnel daylight into a kitchen and dining area at the rear of this renovated house in Sydney by local office Carter Williamson Architects. The clients asked Carter Williamson Architects to brighten the interior of a formerly dingy space at one end of their elongated south-facing property in the city's Annandale neighbourhood. Related story: Caramel's […]

"When our clients approached us they had surrounded themselves with contemporary artworks of all forms and beautiful personal photographs from their travels, but it was hard to see anything inside the gloomy little rooms of their existing home," said the architects.

Influenced by the "light cannons" that pierce the concrete shell of Le Corbusier's iconic Sainte Marie de La Tourette monastery, the architects added a faceted new roof that culminates in two north-facing skylights.

The slope of the roof is shallower on its southern edge to prevent it from blocking daylight reaching the windows of the neighbouring property, while the skylights are angled to capture the northern light.

Inside the kitchen and dining space of Light Cannon House, the new roof creates a dramatic steepled ceiling supported by timber beams.

As the brief for the renovation focused on introducing light into the property rather than increasing its physical size, just 22 square metres of floor space was added to improve the functionality of the existing rooms.

A bedroom at the front of the house was retained and the living area in the single-storey structure beyond was extended out to the boundaries of the plot, utilising space previously occupied by a neglected passage.

The living room is visually connected to the new kitchen through a small glass-walled courtyard that also helps to increase the amount of daylight reaching both spaces.

Sliding windows in the wall facing the kitchen can be opened to increase natural ventilation and create an open-air window seat.

A glazed panel in the rear wall at the end of the dining area can be swung outward to connect this space with the decked courtyard beyond.

The majority of internal surfaces are painted white to emphasise the brightness of the spaces. Black kitchen units provide a strong contrast that was influenced by the "clinical palette" favoured by the clients, who are both doctors of chemistry.

"They introduced us to the biological phenomenon of 'chirality' – the concept that explains why the asymmetrical light cannon roof form is pleasing to the eye," said the architects.

The walls of the dining room display remnants of an old fireplace, with the irregular brick surface now whitewashed and surrounded by the family's collection of artworks.

A storage space above the living room and ground floor bedroom has been enlarged to transform it into a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and a window overlooking the new sculptural roof.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2014/08/20/light-cannon-house-carter-williamson-skylight-sydney/feed/6Staedel Museum extension by Schneider+Schumacherhttp://www.dezeen.com/2012/03/09/staedel-museum-extension-by-schneiderschumacher/
http://www.dezeen.com/2012/03/09/staedel-museum-extension-by-schneiderschumacher/#commentsFri, 09 Mar 2012 14:30:26 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=197620Slideshow: German architects Schneider+Schumacher have completed an underground gallery that creates a bulge beneath the lawn of the Staedel Museum in Frankfurt. Almost 200 circular skylights arranged in a grid across the lawn let light filter down into the exhibition hall, while the artificial hill creates a domed central ceiling. The garden remains accessible to […]

In February 2008, an international jury chaired by Louisa Hutton (architect BDA, Berlin) announced Frankfurt architects schneider+schumacher as the competition winners. “An excellent choice,” were the words used by the press when reporting on the announcement. “A shining jewel by day, a pool of light by night,” applauded the competition jury.

The new building adjoins the garden wing completed at the start of the 20th century and itself the first extension of the original museum building, which was built on Frankfurt’s Schaumainkai in 1878. In contrast to any of the extension work carried out to date, the new section of the museum will not be above ground; the generous new space planned by schneider+schumacher will be located beneath the Städel garden.

The new exhibition space will be accessed via a central axis from the main entrance on the museum’s river side. By opening the two tympanums to the right and left of the museum’s main entrance foyer, visitors will be able to reach the Metzler Foyer level.

A staircase will then lead from this area down into the 3,000-square-meter museum extension beneath the garden. The garden halls’ interior the will be characterized by the elegantly curved, seemingly weightless ceiling, spanning the entire exhibition space. 195 circular skylights varying between 1.5 and 2.5 meters in circumference will flood the space below with natural light as well as form a captivating pattern in the garden area above.

Outside, the green, dome-like protrusions, which visitors will be able to walk across, will lend the Städel garden a unique look and create a new architectural hallmark for the museum.

“Frankfurt will not only gain a new, unique exhibition building,” declared the competition jury, “but as a ‘green building’ it will also be very much abreast of its times.” The generously spacious, light-flooded garden halls will be the new home of the contemporary art section of the museum’s collection.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2012/03/09/staedel-museum-extension-by-schneiderschumacher/feed/1Old Workshop by Jack Woolleyhttp://www.dezeen.com/2012/02/22/old-workshop-by-jack-woolley/
http://www.dezeen.com/2012/02/22/old-workshop-by-jack-woolley/#commentsWed, 22 Feb 2012 13:30:15 +0000http://admin.dezeen.com/?p=194258Slideshow: people strolling by this brick wall in London might miss the disguised entrance to a secret office and home. The wall appears to merely bridge the gap between two existing properties, but is in fact a screen across the entire facade of a building designed by British architect Jack Woolley. Located on the site […]

A project to rehabilitate a derelict carpenter’s workshop which had been used to make walking sticks by doubling its size and converting it to live/work.

The original workshop was built behind a London stock brick wall that linked the neighbouring terraces.

This wall and the gap above it that framed a landscape of tree canopies were important to the integrity of the streetscape and a decision was taken to preserve them.

This led to a bespoke door design piercing the wall to form a new entrance – integrated into the brickwork but visible only as a rectangular witness line.

To increase the habitable volume, a new basement level with generous ceiling heights was inserted under the original, but offset horizontally to allow daylight to penetrate through walk on roof lights running along its length.

Materials salvaged from the derelict structure were used to restore the original building with small interventions to accommodate changed requirements of day lighting, thermal efficiency and circulation.

Where possible finishes were integrated into the structure – for example, the floor screed was polished, eliminating the need for a secondary finish.

Pitch pine boards salvaged from the roof were dried out, lightly planed and used to make kitchen units.

To extend the useful life of the building, it had to function in a variety of live:work usage ratios as needs changed.

The way the spaces could be used was planned and services were provided to enable different combinations to be adopted easily.

]]>http://www.dezeen.com/2012/02/22/old-workshop-by-jack-woolley/feed/17Station Hyllie by Metro Arkitekterhttp://www.dezeen.com/2011/09/30/station-hyllie-by-metro-arkitekter/
http://www.dezeen.com/2011/09/30/station-hyllie-by-metro-arkitekter/#commentsFri, 30 Sep 2011 01:00:39 +0000http://www.dezeen.com/?p=159641The circular roof of a metro station near Copenhagen looms over sunken platforms like a spotty UFO. The station, designed by Swedish studio Metro Arkitekter, is located near to the airport on the route to the city centre. The 52 spots that perforate the round concrete roof are skylights that filter daylight through to the two […]

Hyllie is the first station you reach when travelling by train from Copenhagen's Kastrup airport and is therefore Malmö's gateway to Copenhagen. This is no traditional station building - we have been working with other elements instead. The large round roof (diameter 45 m) - lit from below using uplights - hovers like a UFO above the station entrance. The roof is perforated by 52 round lantern lights which allow daylight to penetrate right down to the platforms, thereby eliminating any sense of an underground station. Daylight and lines of sight have acted as important parameters for creating a safe environment. The station is a regional and local train station with four tracks and two platforms. Bartenbach LichtLabor of Innsbruck are responsible for the lighting concept. The artistic decoration has been carried out by Kristina Matusch of Malmö.